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However, I think the editor' who -"T.Dto Ciatcditorial was entirely sin
cere sincere, but ignorant. He doesn't know what he is talking about,
although he means what he says. Arid any man is in a bad fix when he
means what he says without knowing what he is saying.
There isn't a judge on the bench in this country who doesn't know that
he is handicapped in the dispensation of justice by the few who control
political nominations, instead of by the people whom Kohlsaat dubs! the mob.
''instead of tru"ckling to the "fickle notions of majorities," tbo many
judges, because they are human, have to truckle .more or less to the dom
ineering minorities the men who control political nominations and elec- f?
tions. .. . .
There isn't a judge on the bench in Chicago who isn't more afraid of
the bossy newspapers than he is of the people. And that is because he
knows he will be misrepresented to the people by the newspapers if he fails
to obey newspaper orders.
Every young lawyer when he starts in to build himself up in his pro
fession has a laudable ambition to be a judge some day. He knows he
can't be elected judge unless he is nominated. He knows he can't be nom
inated unless he plays the political game with the fellows who control nom
inations. So. he runs with the machine and curries favor with political
newspapers and other bosses.
After he is elected and takes his place on the bench the judge begins
to think of a second term. He has to keep in the good graces of the politi
cal powers that be. He has sold himself into political slavery. He dare not
offend the few men who can prevent his renomination.
And every few years he must climb down off the bench and wade in
party political filth up to his eyes in order to be renominated and re-elected.
There isn't an honest judge who wouldn't feel much freer to be a just
judge if he had to run but once and then could remain a judge during good
behavior, or until recalled by the people.
The people don't want special privileges in courts. They never got any
and don't expect any. They are sore at the courts, at judges and at the
law,, because they know, there are a few who enjoy special privileges In
many courts privileges the many never get.
If judges were nominated by petition, without party designation and
for an indefinite term, they would not need to fear political bosses, news
papers or the so-called mob. It would be a very difficult matter to drive
an honest judge from the bench by the recall. He would be much safer In
the hands of the people than he is now, when he holds his job subject to
the whim of political and newspaper bosses.
If a judge is honestly doing his duty, what is the sense in making him
run for office every few years like a wardpolftician?
There is no sense in it at all, providing the people are protected against
judicial crooks by the right of recall. There is no protection for the people ,
against crooked judges when they are appointed for life, and without' the Cj
right of recall vested in the people. -
I don't believe any-honest judge is afraid of the recall, when it is in the
hands of the pebple. But he has good reason to be afraid of it when it is '
in the hands of crooked political bosses. - "
We have had some shameful examples in Cook county of judges who .!
fawned upon party and. newspaper bosses. They kissed the hand that fed 4 $
them. '
Lawyers as a rule are poor citizens, although better fitted to be valuable
citizens, by their special training and education, than any other class. Tha
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